Comments on: How To Build A Poker Table (or not) http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/ Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:20:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jared http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3174 Jared Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:18:34 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3174 JC2Play, It's not getting scratched from chips, cards, cub holders, or anything. It's still holding up great, it's been a big party hit. JC2Play,

It’s not getting scratched from chips, cards, cub holders, or anything. It’s still holding up great, it’s been a big party hit.

]]> By: JC2Play http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3173 JC2Play Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:09:23 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3173 Table looks great but wondering if its getting all scratched up now or not? I want to make one that folds with the wood center piece but unsure of the chips scratching the table over time... Table looks great but wondering if its getting all scratched up now or not? I want to make one that folds with the wood center piece but unsure of the chips scratching the table over time…

]]> By: Wahoo http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3103 Wahoo Sat, 06 Oct 2007 06:43:57 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3103 Thank you for sharing! Thank you for sharing!

]]> By: Jared http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3096 Jared Fri, 28 Sep 2007 20:00:30 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3096 Fellow table builder, Thanks for the advice, I definitely plan on trying all these new things for my next table... and that's not my girlfriend anymore, but now my fiance! Fellow table builder,

Thanks for the advice, I definitely plan on trying all these new things for my next table… and that’s not my girlfriend anymore, but now my fiance!

]]> By: Fellow table builder http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3095 Fellow table builder Fri, 28 Sep 2007 19:41:52 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3095 Jared, Not too bad for your first try. Poker carpenter has some good advice. The only thing I can add to that is that like he said the warping continues through the life of the table. I ended up adding supports to all of my tables after my first. Just a couple 2X4s that run the length of the table help a ton. What I really wanted to talk about was your rail. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by doing a couple things. First, a full length piece of vinyl is key. Dapper Dan from HPT gives the best advice as far as wrapping the vinyl but don't cut out the center first like he did. You need the support of the center to pull the vinyl tightly, which prevents the wrinkles. Next, before you staple go ahead and step right on the rail to compress the foam, pull tight and staple. Then step to the next area, which should be direct opposite side of the rail. Pull vinyl tight before stepping, then step, pull tight, and staple. Do the entire outside. Then cut out inside (PC potato from HPT gives best instructions for this) and staple. Stepping on rail as you go. That should give you a nice wrinkle free rail. Good luck on the next one. By the way, cute girlfriend. Jared,
Not too bad for your first try. Poker carpenter has some good advice. The only thing I can add to that is that like he said the warping continues through the life of the table. I ended up adding supports to all of my tables after my first. Just a couple 2X4s that run the length of the table help a ton. What I really wanted to talk about was your rail. You can save yourself a lot of trouble by doing a couple things. First, a full length piece of vinyl is key. Dapper Dan from HPT gives the best advice as far as wrapping the vinyl but don’t cut out the center first like he did. You need the support of the center to pull the vinyl tightly, which prevents the wrinkles. Next, before you staple go ahead and step right on the rail to compress the foam, pull tight and staple. Then step to the next area, which should be direct opposite side of the rail. Pull vinyl tight before stepping, then step, pull tight, and staple. Do the entire outside. Then cut out inside (PC potato from HPT gives best instructions for this) and staple. Stepping on rail as you go. That should give you a nice wrinkle free rail. Good luck on the next one. By the way, cute girlfriend.

]]> By: Jared http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3088 Jared Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:24:19 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3088 Thanks for the heads up, I will definitely keep those suggestions in mind when I'm building my second table. Thanks for the heads up, I will definitely keep those suggestions in mind when I’m building my second table.

]]> By: poker carpenter http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3087 poker carpenter Wed, 08 Aug 2007 10:44:10 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3087 If you use laminated wood (like multiplex) instead of mdf, the warp should be much less. Don't get me wrong, mdf is an affordable alternative for the more expensive material choices, but spill one drink on untreated mdf and that part of your table will suck up enough to leave a nasty swollen stain, that cannot be grinded off without noticing later. Mdf is also sold with a layer of veneer to make it more durable to moist. A foil is commonly applied to the veneer surface when you purchase it. Leave it on till the sawing is done. No need to take it off at the moment. Clamp on pieces of spare wood on top and bottom of the sawing line so the jig-saw will not pull off the veneer. Don't forget to treat the sawing edges afrerwards, for eventually they might react first even on air humidity causing the edges to curl up. Veneer is not ot be grinded, but if you take the right precautions before sawing, scratches and splintering can be prevented quite easily. Cause of this warping might also be the immense surface dimensions of the table. my experience is that if you carve out the center to for example create a felt playing area, most of the warping is easier to adjust. However, if any of you creative minds is planning on using a plank of massive unlayered wood, prepare for some real warping (during production is only the beginning). Due to temperature and humidity variations regular wood will go off wandering its own way. Result is a colonial vintage table that eventually looks like it hasn't been put together with much accuracy. If you use laminated wood (like multiplex) instead of mdf, the warp should be much less.
Don’t get me wrong, mdf is an affordable alternative for the more expensive material choices, but spill one drink on untreated mdf and that part of your table will suck up enough to leave a nasty swollen stain, that cannot be grinded off without noticing later.
Mdf is also sold with a layer of veneer to make it more durable to moist. A foil is commonly applied to the veneer surface when you purchase it. Leave it on till the sawing is done. No need to take it off at the moment. Clamp on pieces of spare wood on top and bottom of the sawing line so the jig-saw will not pull off the veneer. Don’t forget to treat the sawing edges afrerwards, for eventually they might react first even on air humidity causing the edges to curl up.
Veneer is not ot be grinded, but if you take the right precautions before sawing, scratches and splintering can be prevented quite easily.
Cause of this warping might also be the immense surface dimensions of the table. my experience is that if you carve out the center to for example create a felt playing area, most of the warping is easier to adjust.
However, if any of you creative minds is planning on using a plank of massive unlayered wood, prepare for some real warping (during production is only the beginning). Due to temperature and humidity variations regular wood will go off wandering its own way. Result is a colonial vintage table that eventually looks like it hasn’t been put together with much accuracy.

]]> By: Jared http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3073 Jared Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:37:03 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3073 So, Chris, if this was a model of perfection then why didn't you come to play Saturday night with everyone else? So, Chris, if this was a model of perfection then why didn’t you come to play Saturday night with everyone else?

]]> By: Chris Kellerman http://jaredbares.com/how-to-build-a-poker-table-or-not/comment-page-1/#comment-3072 Chris Kellerman Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:02:25 +0000 http://jaredbares.com/?p=254#comment-3072 You should write "Poker Table Building for Dummies." This is a model of perfection. You should write “Poker Table Building for Dummies.” This is a model of perfection.

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